mbv, The /Ark/, Breaking the News
Rachel: *pokes at her plateful of deep fried pickles, and then looks across the table at her Commander* *quietly* Quit staring at him and just go say hello, Chief.
Patrick: *quietly* I wasn't staring... *yes, he was* *hesitantly moves to get up*
Rachel: *glances at Emi where she's conked out with her head on the table* *then boots Patrick and looks the other way* Raj?
Raj: *looks up from peeking at Destiny's camping spot under the table* Yes, Rachel?
Rachel: *quirks a finger at him even as she kicks Patrick again for standing there and staring*
Raj: *as Patrick skitters sideways to avoid getting kicked a third time* ... *raised brow, will come over*
Destiny: *up to the table, will gank Raj's dessert and take it to Sister!*
Rachel: *nods toward Patrick's empty seat and abandoned plate*
Raj: *puzzled expression as he moves to occupy Patrick's vacated seat*
Patrick: *moving to go speak with his creators, gets met halfway by Alpha Trion, whose expression has brightened into a proud grin*
Rachel: *quietly, eyes on her own plate* I haven't seen Sora since I left the crèche to get the Chief. How's she doing?
Raj: *quietly* She's sticking close to Kup for the moment... She's calmed down, but is still a bit tense.
Rachel: I'm surprised Desti's out here. I saw how hard Locky was clinging to the Old Man. *pauses and looks over toward Patrick and his creators* I guess Kup can't really use that title right now.
Raj: *very soft chuckle* She was waiting for me to get up so she could 'steal' my dessert... I don't think she'll be going anywhere for awhile once she's back with Kup...
Rachel: Desti, sweetheart, you want my pickles? I'm not very hungry right now. *looks over toward the big sparklet*
Destiny: *pauses halfway to the door, quick about face, scoots over to Mama*
Rachel: *offers up the plate* I don't know where the ketchup is. The last time I saw the bottle Sky was trying to use some for a contrast to Samuel's blue tint.
Destiny: *clicks as she grabs the plate, looks like she wants to get going back to Sister and Locky-Sissy and Kup-Papa*
Ryan: *comes jogging in, a wad of blankets under one arm* *looks around* Dad? Desti?
Destiny: *scoots, clickstorming all the way*
Raj: Over here, Ryan... *amused at how quickly Destiny left*
Ryan: *sidesteps for Aunt, then comes over and pauses to eye the plate in front of Raj* Are you coming to bed? I brought all our blankets, and some of Uncle Tracks and Aunt Denver's.
Rachel: *quietly, with a slight grin that doesn't quite reach her eyes* I still need him for a little while, Slugger. He'll come to bed soon.
Raj: *small nod of agreement* I promise, I'll be there soon. *means what he says*
Ryan: Okay. *looks at Emilia* Should I wake Aunty Emi up and bring her someplace comfortable?
Raj: *glances at Emilia* *quietly* I think Patrick was going to do that...
Ryan: *looks over toward Patrick to see what he's doing now, brows lifted slightly above his tired dark eyes*
Patrick: *sheepish grin on his face as he and Alpha Trion talk about recent events*
Ryan: *snags that plate that's in front of Raj, and then goes over to Patrick* Uncle Pat, Aunty Emi's going to wake up grouchy if she sleeps there.
Patrick: *slight start, glances over to Emilia* Oh, sheesh... Thanks, Ryan... *excuses himself for the moment, will bring Emilia someplace more comfortable to sleep*
Ryan: *shy, easy going grin for Alpha Trion and Bess* Hi.
Alpha Trion: *gentle smile* Hello, young one.
Ryan: So... what's your name?
Rachel: *behind him* Chief, you're a dork.
Alpha Trion: My designation proper is Alpha Trion... Though when I am in alt mode, as I am now, my name is Alfons Tritten.
Patrick: *soft razz for Rachel, will PINpoint Emilia away*
Ryan: *suddenly stiffens to attention as Hound's memories tell him who this mech is* Sir.
Alfons: *gently* At ease...
Ryan: *quietly, sounding like someone much older* It's good to know you made it, Sir.
Alfons: *making note of that change in tone, will ask Patrick or Rachel about it later* I apologize for not making contact sooner...
Ryan: The Chief and Ratchet were pretty worried. *glances to Bess* You knew he was here somewhere, didn't you?
Bess: *slight smile as she nods* I also knew that he didn't want to be found.
Alfons: *small nod* It was not time for me to be found when we first arrived on this planet... *quieter, to Bess* I apologize for not contacting you sooner, my dear...
Bess: *quiet snort* //You still transmit over private channels in your sleep.//
Alfons: *slight blush as he smiles*
Ryan: *blinking now and looking bewildered. Just realized he'd fallen into Hound's memories again* Um... I think I better go to bed. *turns toward the door with his blankets and his plate of pickles*
Alfons: *to Ryan* Good rest.
Bess: *quietly as she gathers up her cardigan* Do you remember Hound?
Alfons: *quietly* He was one of Delta's, was he not?
Bess: He was the young mech who found the last petro rabbit.
Alfons: *small nod* *quietly* The young one who just left is related to him?
Bess: *sighs and starts toward the door herself* That's his sparklet, in his shell. With his memories.
Alfons: *surprised expression is a go as he moves to follow Bess* *softly* What happened?
Bess: *as she passes out of the room* I'll tell you another time.
Rachel: *watches them go, her chin a little firmer than usual and something in her eyes*
Raj: *studying Rachel now* *quietly* There's more you want to say, isn't there?
Rachel: *nods* *quietly* Do you remember when they took Kriti's foster mother into custody. What she said?
Raj: *expression neutral, but there's a quick flash in his eyes of dislike for the woman in question* *quietly* Something about others?
Rachel: Yeah. We found one of them today. He tried arresting the Chief for fighting with Megs in the middle of a Tokyo street.
Raj: ... *raised brow is a go, and from his slightly distant expression, he's telling Sora that nothing's wrong, someone's just doing something stupid* *wants to spare Sora as much pain as possible*
Rachel: *softly* He's a police detective, a married expectant father, and an older brother.
Raj: *keeping a firm grip on his emotions* *quietly* What's his name?
Rachel: Deckerd.
Raj: *very slight nod* And his siblings?
Rachel: *mouth twitches at the corners as her eyes brighten* Power Joe, Dumpson, McCrane, and Yuuta.
Raj: *softly* How many of them were amongst the ones that woman mentioned? *afraid of the answer, but he has to know*
Rachel: Deckerd was. I created Power Joe, Dumpson, and McCrane's sparks today.
Raj: *surprised* ... And Yuuta?
Rachel: Is human. He's a 10 year old boy that Deckerd imprinted on.
Raj: *quietly* I see...
Rachel: *smile fades from her face* Deckerd's wife was a feral youngling that didn't even have a name before his engineer gave her one.
Raj: *soft sound of concern*
Rachel: She and Deckerd's son will be born in around four weeks. He's normal.
Raj: *very slight nod, is trying to keep Sora from getting through his walls* *quietly* Sora doesn't know yet...
Rachel: *shakes her head* *softly* Deckerd wants to meet her. *chin trembles* He's so much like Hound, but he's got more of Sora in him than Ryan does.
Raj: *another slight nod, and then a wince as Sora manages to see what has him so upset*
Rachel: *sees that wince* //Sora?//
Sora: *quietly* //I want to meet him...//
Rachel: *gently* //He's looking forward to meeting you. So are the triplets.//
Sora: *quieter* //How soon can we go?//
Rachel: //How about tomorrow?//
Sora: //Alright... Will Kup be able to come with us?//
Rachel: *pauses to comm the old warrior and rolls her eyes at his exasperated snark* //Kup's coming. Ryan can keep an eye on Locky. Desti'll probably be coming too.//
Sora: *quietly* //Alright...// *slight pause* //Kriti is coming as well...//
Rachel: *worried twist to her mouth* //We don't want to overwhelm the triplets.// *adds a channel* //Kriti, sweetheart, can you hear us?//
Kriti: //Yes, Aunt Rachel, I can.//
Rachel: *softly* //Do you think you'd be able to wait till next time to meet Deckerd and the triplets? Power Joe, Dumpson, and McCrane are just new, and Dumpson's nearly pure Sharpshot in his personality. I'm afraid too many people at once will overwhelm them.//
Kriti: *quiet for a few moments as she thinks about this* //Alright.// *will databurst Sora and Raj Japanese language packs in the meantime*
Rachel: //Ryan and Locky are staying behind too.// *meaning that you're not being second placed, Kriti*
Kriti: //I understand, Aunt Rachel.//
Rachel: *softly, the love clear in her voice* //Thanks, sweetheart.//
Kriti: //Have a good rest, Aunt Rachel...// *is already planning gifts for when she does get to meet her siblings*
Rachel: //You too, baby. Sora?//
Sora: *as Kriti wishes her good rest and signs off for the night* //Raj and I both have language packs...//
Rachel: *nod* //Alright. ...Is there anything you need? To bring along tomorrow?//
Sora: //I don't think so.... Destiny's got her dolls... and I have mine...// *yes, she's still got the Pound Purry that Wesson gave her* //Pumpkin has food and water....//
Rachel: *relieved that she doesn't have to head off a late night toy store raid by a mom wanting to make sure her lost babies know they're loved* *bites her lip and nods* *softly* //I told you about Deckerd and Nancy's son, right?//
Sora: //...No...//
Rachel: *very gently, but with just the right hint of tease* //Yeah... Grandma.//
Sora: *soft razz*
Rachel: *and now she's chortling very quietly, the sound soft and just a little punchy as the stress drains out of her. Wipes the tears out of her eyes*
Sora: *softly* //Get some rest, Rachel...//
Raj: *gently rubs Rachel's back*
Rachel: *quietly, as she swallows the laughter* //I've got a box of toys and baby things I bought just in case, if you want to bring any presents tomorrow.// *see, she doesn't need to make the last minute trips*
Sora: *very soft chuckle* //Alright...//
Rachel: *deep sigh* //Good sleep, sweetheart. I'll send Raj over as soon as I'm sure he's actually eaten something.//
Sora: //Good sleep, Rachel... Sora out.//
Raj: *slight wince as he gets gently scolded by his mate for not eating*
Rachel: *gives him one of those wicked teasing looks* There's a big tub of mint chocolate icing in the fridge. Does that sound like supper to you?
Raj: No, it sounds like your supper.
Rachel: *gets up to go get it, her feet aching softly now that they're free of her brown foam slingbacks* So shut up and eat it with me.
((written with random_xtras))